Representing the 2nd District of Alabama

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Deploying 187th Fighter Wing and family members honored

April 6, 2014

Representative Roby In The News

The crowd gathered in a hangar Saturday morning at Dannelly Field fell quiet as spouses prepared to bid goodbye to their loved ones in uniform during a deployment ceremony for Montgomery’s 187th Fighter Wing.

Dignitaries including Gov. Robert Bentley, Lt. Gov. Kay Ivey, U.S. Rep. Martha Roby and base leadership thanked the 330 troops of the Alabama Air National Guard for their voluntary service to support Operation Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan.

“We have the best soldiers and the best state in the country,” Bentley said. “It’s because of all you men and women who serve in your jobs at home, but you serve our country and you serve our state so admirably.”

State and military officials also recognized the sacrifices of families who will take care of things on the home front during the unit’s 6-month deployment.

Newlywed Kelsey Bice will be away from her husband, Senior Airman Brady Bice, for the first time since their marriage.

The toughest part, she said., will be juggling her work schedule as a nurse at Baptist Medical Center South with the full-time job as mother of their two daughters, 6-year-old Braelyn and 6-month-old Kennedy.